[Specific IgE antibodies for nuts in infants].

An introduction of several foodstuffs containing nuts into the diet in Poland increased the incidence of allergy. Therefore, an incidence of nuts-specific IgE antibodies in infants have been determined. The study involved 163 infants aged between 1 and 12 months with the symptoms of food allergy and matched control group. Specific IgE antibodies against food allergens such as cow milk, eggs, wheat flour, corn, soya, cod-fish, hazel- and peanuts have been assayed. Specific IgE antibodies against cow milk have been found in 105 (64.4%) infants, soya in 85 (52.1%), eggs in 64 (39.2%), wheat flour in 45 (27.6%), hazelnuts in 68 (41.7%), and peanuts in 47 (28.8%) infants. According to the parents, these infants have never been given any foodstuff containing nuts but such foodstuffs have been eaten by their mothers during pregnancy and breast-feeding. Therefore, pregnant and breast-feeding women should be warned against eating nuts and introducing them to infant diet too early.